Converted woodstove

We have a woodstove that the prior owners turned into a gas “fireplace” type of stove. They put a hole in the bottom for the gas line, etc. Is it possible to change it back to a wood burning stove? If so, is there a resource to help us through the process? The stove is a Wonder Warm stove (dunham lehr inc./Richmond, Indiana serial #7452). There is no fire brick. It is flat on the bottom — no grates. The stovepipe is still in place — needs to be updated and cleaned! We are in the process of getting the gas line pulled and the gas source capped.
 
Kristi Phipps
Holdrege, Nebraska

You can have a welder weld a patch on the stove where the gas lines passed through. I would probably add firebrick to the bottom as it’ll help keep it from warping or burning through. You can get firebrick at most big box lumber stores such as Lowes. Be sure the stove is far enough from the back (36″ is usually recommended) and any side walls (36″ is recommended), with a fireproof backing and hearth underneath. You can use patio blocks under the stove and a larger stove board behind it. And, as you said, clean out and/or replace the stovepipe if necessary. Do be sure that it’s installed properly as more house fires in the winter are caused by improperly installed and maintained wood stoves than you really want to know. — Jackie

Wild plum pits

I mailed my check today for some of your plum pits. I’m very excited to get them!
 
Can you post a few pictures of your plum trees? I would be interested in knowing how high they get, how wide they spread, how big the fruit is, how long from planting until the first fruit, etc. As well as some planting instructions/tips.
 
Donni
Lowman, New York

I’m sorry to tell you that we’ve about run out of plum pits! We had no idea of the HUGE response we’d have for this listing. Next harvest, we’ll be sure to save many more pits! We’re substituting a pack of our more requested seeds for the plum pits and hope this is okay. If not, we’ll refund payment.

These plums are about the size of a peach tree at full growth, maybe 20 feet tall at most (you can prune them shorter) and perhaps as wide. The fruit is about the size of a half dollar, sweet and yellow flesh inside and a tart red skin. You plant in the fall, water well, and protect from squirrels and chipmunks who will dig up the pits for themselves. In the spring they will sprout. They begin to fruit at about 3-4 years with good care. — Jackie